Has there ever been a 12-minute set as hyped as Beyoncé’s Super Bowl halftime show Sunday? The widely publicized press conference, the Destiny’s Child reunion rumors, the bold promise of live singing after that lip-synching scandal at Barack Obama’s inauguration. Was there any possibility whatsoever it could live up to expectations—especially since the vast majority of Super Bowl halftime shows are bloated, ultimately forgettable diversions?

Well, the possibility was slim—but against the major odds, Beyoncé delivered with fierce choreography, stunning special effects, that exciting Destiny’s Child reunion, and some strong, live singing. It was so electrifying, the power in half the stadium went out early in the second half. (Well, that wasn’t confirmed as the reason as of deadline, and it probably wasn’t the cause, but it’d sure be incredible if it were.)

From the moment she strutted across a stage made out of digital video screens to the bright horns of “Crazy in Love,” it was clear that Beyoncé owned the Mercedes-Benz Superdome—shaking her hips, flipping her hair, at one point licking her finger, a bold move just shy of “Nipplegate” risque. It was a bit cocky, but definitely earned. Most impressive of all was that she reserved pop anthem “Halo,” with its challenging vocal
flights, for the very end after all that exhausting dancing.

But commanding as Beyoncé’s performance was, the victory certainly wasn’t hers alone. She had a practical army of on-stage support, in the form of scores of strong dancers and musicians, all of them women. The special effects were probably the best ever featured at a halftime show; at one point, Beyoncé performed with two look-a-like dancers and a number of digital Beyoncés on a video screen for a sort of high tech update on the “Where’s Michael Jackson?” stunt from the King of Pop’s famous halftime show.

And the Destiny’s Child reunion was a crucial reminder that Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams can hold their own on vocals and stage presence as their now infinitely-more-famous collaborator—and they were gracious enough to provide support for Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” who in turn let her cohorts take a swipe on lead vocals. Here’s hoping this wasn’t a one-time-only performance.

Beyoncé’s set wasn’t the only memorable musical performance of Sunday’s big game.

Alicia Keys, from behind a piano, sang an extended version of the national anthem, but vocally she avoided melodramatic embellishments, delivering a restrained but stirring rendition while that brought multiple football players to tears.

Even more touching was Jennifer Hudson’s “America The Beautiful,” not for her performance specifically, although it was technically superb, but for the presence of her backing chorus, students from Sandy Hook Elementary School, the site of the horrific mass shooting in Newton, Conn., in December.

About Piet Levy

Piet Levy covers music for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and TapMilwaukee.com. For more music updates, you can also follow him on Facebook and Instagram​.